Mercedes woe shows F1 budget cap is working - Wolff
Mercedes woe shows F1 budget cap is working - Wolff
Toto Wolff believes Mercedes' woes this season underline the fact F1's budget cap is working as his team is unable to spend its way out of trouble.
Mercedes was brought crashing back down to earth at Spa-Francorchamps over the weekend as its level of performance was in stark contrast to its upward rise prior to the summer break.
It led to Wolff describing his team's qualifying display, in particular, as the worst he had experienced during his 10-year involvement with the sport.
Unlike in previous seasons, however, when all teams could spend as much as they wanted to resolve issues, they are now constrained by a budget cap introduced last year for exactly the situation the German manufacturer finds itself in.
Mercedes is unable to trial the number of ideas it would previously have done in the hope of finding a cure.
Asked as to the difficulties in being unable to experiment due to the cap, Wolff replied: "Look at the chassis - we wouldn't be able to introduce a chassis at this stage of the season.
"We could go for [being] massively overweight, which we haven't been able to dial out because we are trying parts on the car in order to solve our various issues, so we can't afford that. Full stop.
"What was aimed by introducing the cost cap has absolutely been achieved, that the big teams can't just throw money at it."
Clock ticking on Mercedes' 2023 design route
Wolff has confirmed Mercedes is approaching a critical point in the year when it has to decide on a design path for next season in a number of areas.
The most eye-catching element of the W13 has been its 'disappearing sidepods' concept, which has proven hit and miss.
The question for Wolff and the aerodynamics team is whether Mercedes pursues this idea with its W14, or opts to explore different avenues.
The chassis, however, is just one of many areas under consideration.
"We haven’t committed [to a concept for next year]," said Wolff. "There are still internal discussions going on.
"It's quite difficult to say 'What is a concept?' Is it the chassis in its current shape? What is that? Is it weight distribution? Is it where you can put the mechanical and aero balance? Is it the bodywork concept?
"All these are different pillars of the car which are evaluated, which could mean some of it goes, some of it stays and that's what we are looking at at the moment?"
The time to make hard-and-fast decisions is approaching, however, with Wolff adding: "There are various cut-off points relating to the various parts of the car that happen in the next few weeks.
"You've got to commit to a chassis concept, to a suspension layout, how you do your cooling, your radiators, how to integrate the engine etcetera etcetera.
"That is something we really need to decide in the next weeks, so September/October maybe, October the latest."
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Newey set to announce STUNNING Red Bull departure
- 2 hours ago
F1 legend reveals 'FLOOD' of death threats after controversial decision
- 9 minutes ago
Adrian Newey: The life and career of Red Bull's motorsport Michelangelo
- 34 minutes ago
Sky Sports F1 pundit dumbfounded by key Ferrari decision
- 1 hour ago
- 2
Talented young F1 prodigy set to make series DEBUT
- 3 hours ago
F1 champion reveals 'painful' contract clause that cost him HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS
- Today 15:57
Related news
Mercedes star tipped to replace struggling driver THIS season
Hamilton car camera captures Verstappen's TRUE feelings toward F1 rival
Marko reveals Vettel requirements for stunning F1 comeback
Fierce Hamilton F1 rival raises timing issue for Ferrari move
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860